Corrosion inhibiting protective sleeves

Abstract

A corrosion inhibiting protective sleeve formed of a woven fabric material and impregnated with a vapor-phase corrosion inhibitor (VpCI).

1. A corrosion inhibiting protective sleeve including a woven fabric material, wherein said woven fabric material is knit to include loops and wherein the loops are impregnated with a vapour-phase corrosion inhibitor (VpCI), said woven fabric material including interstices allowing transmission of moisture through said material and said sleeve being permeable regarding the transmission of moisture through the sleeve and lacking any moisture barrier layers. 
     
     
       2. A corrosion inhibiting protective tubular sleeve, said sleeve for protecting a metal object received therein, comprising:
 a fiber matrix formed into a tubular knit; 
 said fiber matrix including a plurality of fibers, said fiber matrix defining interstices between said fibers allowing transmission of moisture through said fiber matrix; 
 a vapour-phase corrosion inhibitor (VpCI) received in at least some of said interstices in an effective amount to inhibit corrosion of the metal object; and 
 said sleeve being permeable regarding the transmission of moisture through the sleeve and lacking any moisture barrier layers. 
 
     
     
       3. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the VpCI is received in said interstices in an effective amount to substantially inhibit corrosion of the metal object for a continuous period of at least 2 years from the when the metal object is introduced into said sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the VpCI is a liquid. 
     
     
       5. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the VpCI is a solid. 
     
     
       6. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the VpCI is a water-based liquid. 
     
     
       7. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the VpCI is an oil-based liquid. 
     
     
       8. A method for manufacturing the corrosion inhibiting protective tubular sleeve of  claim 2 , including:
 forming said tubular knit including said fiber matrix; and 
 impregnating the fiber matrix with the vapour-phase corrosion inhibitor (VpCI) to inhibit corrosion of the metal object. 
 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein impregnating the fiber matrix further includes:
 introducing the sleeve into a solution of the VpCI; and 
 maintaining the sleeve within the solution of the VpCI until the interstices of the fiber matrix have received therein an effective amount of the VpCI to inhibit corrosion of the metal object received therein. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the solution of VpCI is water-based. 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the solution of VpCI is oil-based. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve is dipped into a bath of the VpCI solution. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve is drawn through a bath of the VpCI solution. 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein forming the tubular knit is performed subsequent to impregnating the fiber matrix. 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein impregnating the fiber matrix is performed subsequent to forming the tubular knit. 
     
     
       16. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the metal object can be secured therein without straps or banding material. 
     
     
       17. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an open end can be sealed. 
     
     
       18. The protective sleeve as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric material is polyester. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of fibers is knit to include loops and further including impregnating the fiber matrix with the vapour-phase corrosion inhibitor (VpCI) so as to be received in the loops. 
     
     
       20. The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of fibers is polyester.